The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-11-30
CHARLES DICKENS, JR.
He Does Not Have ne MANY Impression s
Regarding AmeTioa ms his Father.
New York sun,

New YORK sun,
The latest spark In the trail OF genius
which Is scintilating in America is Charles
Dickens, Jr. He Is rather prolific spark
he has eight children. Only one Of the
troupe accompanies him on his American
tour, Mr.. Dickens has been here several
weeks, and to the writer IL occurred that
he might have his own impressions OF the
country, that he might or might not agree
with his illustrious sire. So the writer
hunted for Mr.. Dickens, and ran him down
in the pRrlor OF an uptown hotel. He is a
welllformed, hearty, easy going looking fell
low OF about thirty. eight,a good six feet 10
height, with that peculiar old-country
leshiness which is not our fatness, a round
looking expression OF the forehead, and
head like his father-but that Is all-morry,
unthoughtful, after.dinner blocking eyes
that look toward but not nj you, the way
our men do; straight unaggressive nose,
and a sandy mustaohe for which his hair
is a darker.matoh.
He has all the air OF n big, pleasant
school boy, and that Undesirable vascil-
lating quality OF manner which leaves
you IN doubt whether Co expect rebuff or
compliment in the coming sentence.
Neither disiurbs the even oomplaIsance
OF his discourse, however, aud You come
away wondering what led you to expect
it. His dressing has the effect OF the
best suit on" OF the good school boy at
last day exercises, neither tweed nor
broadoloth, bat an expression of both,
and he acts as though be longed 70 put
his hands in his pockets, but knew better
than to be caught at IL. He is maste of
a school OF politeness, particularly IN
American, which makes gallantry and
good manners duties based on principle,
rather than pleasures called forth by the
special charms OF the particular person
on whom they are bestowed. He does
not anticipate mentally, but follows easil-
ly, not uDgracefully and very graoiously.
His observation OF people. places and
things, while quite extended, is not at all
critical. He visits many places without
seeing them, and has no induoement to
lead him TO examine closely into details.
The principal objects of interest TO him
have been hotels, depots and his audien-
ces. II pressed closely as to the most
needed Improvements in anything he has
seen, he would say; "Pave the streets OF
New York, and seat people comfortably
who travel through them in public con.
veyances." Public discomfort is keenly
felt by foreigners while private living is
the equal OF anything IN the older couu.
tries.
Mr.. Dickens thinks that New York is
very much like Paris, and that Boston has
quite an English air. American hotels he
finds exceedingly we'll managed, comfort
able, neat, prompt In service and we'll furn-
ished, but "0h dear me, they can't cook,
one OF them / don't know what is the
matter whether IL Is the cooking or the
seasoning, or the materials, but nothing
tastes right. There's something wrong
with it all-iPs bad, that's all that can be
said"
Table etiquette he finds good, generally,
except for the "beastly practice" of bring
ing on all kinds OF viands, together, or so
nearly so that "a man sees the next while
eating the last" He condems the indecent
haste which meals are brought on and de-
spatched, He regards a meal time as pc
Rod for leasurely, pleasant discourse, taste
full sequences of physical enjoyment and
dainty attention to details of taste and re-
finement; social service in which the dim
ing room Is the temple, the walters reveT-
emit and efficient priests and the partaKers
respectful and decorous worshipers. In
stead OF that they are rude parentheses of
action to be kicked into and out OF sight
as hastily as possible as so much waste Of
time.
He finds excellent stage accommoda-
tons comfortable halls, and well-furnished
lecture roc ms. The platform species of en-
tertainment is much more OF an ins.itu-
ton and better provided for here than in
England. He is much pleased with his
audiences as he finds them. They are de-
cidedly less demonstrative than in Euro
pean cities, but no less appreciative. He
says ii is all bosh talking about American
audiences and English; that If placed ba-
fore them without any previous knowl-
edge he could not himself tell which was
which. This is especially true of all the
large cities. He does not find IN the looks
OF American men, women, and children
those marked differences from English peo-
ple which writers are won't to assert. He
can not classify as 10 nationality. An in
telligenI, refined woman, or an intellectual
manly man looks the same, whether on
this or that side of the Atlantic Ocean.
Inferior people look 50 the world over. He
regards people as humanity differing only
in conditions.